TREETOP TREASURE HUNT - New sport? No, it's sky-high science! - research on rainforest scents in Gabon

Ranger Rick, August, 2000 by Ellen Lambeth

How do you make sense--or scents--out of a rainforest rooftop? Just get up there and take a big whiff! That's one thing this colorful treetop raft is good for.

Scientists from around the world have come to Gabon (ga-BONE), a country that sits right on the equator in Africa. They meet deep in the tropical forest and rise high up into the treetops. From there, some of them put their noses to the test, sniffing all the plant parts within reach.

Why? To track down new and unusual smells--and tastes. These may be used to spice up anything from lotions and air fresheners to foods and drinks. That can help companies that hope to sell the fragrances and flavors. But it can also help the rainforest. (More on that later.)

The hot-air blimp at right is tied to the ground while scientists get their gear together. Soon the rainbow-colored craft will be ready for liftoff. It will rise from the clearing and soar quietly over the rainforest.

Good thing the scientists below have their heads covered in netting. Look at those buzzing insects! They can form a living black cloud around the scientists.

CLIMBING TO THE TOP

It all starts at one of the busiest places in the natural world: the rainforest canopy. That's where the treetops reach for the sun. It's also where most new twigs and leaves are growing, most flowers are opening, and most fruits are forming. It's like a huge cafeteria for all kinds of insects, birds, bats, and other animals. There are so many living things up there that scientists haven't even discovered--let alone counted--them all!

The canopy is a tricky place to work. Rainforest trees shoot up more than 100 feet (30 m). That's higher than a 10-story building! Even their lowest branches may be 30 feet (9 m) above the ground.

Over the years, scientists have tried many ways to conquer those heights. They've made rope walkways, built tall towers, hoisted huge cranes. But then--aha!--a group in France came up with a cool idea: Why not drop a big work station down from above?

The quiet, gentle way to do that is by hot-air craft, such as the blimp shown at left. A huge net-like raft dangles below the blimp until the pilots find a good drop-off spot. Once the raft is in place, the scientists climb up from the ground, hop onto the raft, and get to work. Their sky-high lab is like a boat floating on a leafy, green ocean.

Sniff, sniff. Hmmm, this could be the sweet smell of success! the scientist above is thinking. It's like vanilla, chocolate, and honey all at once! But first, he has to capture that scent. How? By sucking it out with this tiny tube (right). He'll study the scent later to find out what chemicals it's made of.

Looks like the jungle lab is now open! (above) See all the different kinds of fruits spread out on the table? A chemist has already started to study them, right here in the middle of the rainforest.

SMELLS GREAT, TASTES FINE!

What's so special about the way things smell or taste? Think about it. When you're hungry, certain smells can really get your mouth watering, right? And certain flavors taste mm-mmm-good! But it's not just about eating. You might pick a certain kind of shampoo, soap, toothpaste, or lip balm because of its smell or taste.

Now check out some packages around your house. First, go to your kitchen. How many labels can you find with "natural and artificial flavors" listed on them? Next check the bathroom cabinets for labels with "flavors" or "fragrance" on them. You can even find "fragrance" listed on many household cleaners.

As you can see, fragrances and flavors are a big business! And they all have to come from somewhere. Take cinnamon, for example. That common spicy scent and flavor was discovered in a tropical tree a long time ago. Some day in the future, you might enjoy a totally new wild flavor from the rainforest canopy in Gabon!

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE

"Sniff Doctors" are only a few of the folks taking air-rafting trips. There are plenty of other scientists up there too.

Some are looking for new medicines. Already, more than half of all medicines are made from chemicals found in plants. But scientists are always looking for new medical treatments. Who knows? A cure for cancer may one day be discovered high in some tropical trees.

Most of the treetop scientists are trying to learn all they can about this new frontier. Some, for example, would like to know more about how the forest helps make the oxygen we all need to survive or how it affects the world's weather. Others want to study treetop plants and animals: What lives and grows there? How do they survive? How are they different from living things on the forest floor?

RAINFORESTS FOREVER

All the different scientists may be checking out different stuff. But they all think of the forest as a magical place, with many fascinating things waiting to be discovered. The best part is, they can study the forest without harming it. They can even "steal" some of the forest's scents and flavors without hurting the plants or animals that live there. In many other tropical places, forests are being cut down for their wood or burned to make way for roads, farms, and towns.